Tsuga plant named ‘MonJers’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Tsuga  cultivar named ‘MonJers’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive Yellow-Orange winter foliage. Plants have a distinctive upright, pyramidal growth habit. The new cultivar is a  Tsuga , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Tsuga canadensis.

Variety denomination: ‘MonJers’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a breeding program under the directionof the inventor, Ron D. Kinney. This new variety, hereinafter referredto as ‘MonJers’, was selected from seedlings resulting from thecollection of seed from an unnamed, unpatented Tsuga canadensis. Thepollen parent is unknown. The novel seedling was discovered in acommercial nursery in Dayton, Oreg. during December of 2011.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interestingselection, the inventor first organized propagation of ‘MonJers’ bysemi-hardwood cuttings at the same commercial nursery during November of2012. The inventor continued controlled testing and propagation,assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. Atleast four generations have been reproduced and have shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MonJers’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘MonJers’ These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘MonJers’ as a new and distinct Tsuga cultivar:

-   -   1. Unique color of foliage: Winter foliage is colored near        Yellow-Orange 18A.    -   2. Distinctive upright, pyramidal and arching growth habit.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

‘MonJers’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the seedparent variety. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MonJers’ however, producedistinctive foliage colored near Yellow-Orange 18A in the Winter months.Additionally the plant habit of ‘MonJers’ is upright and pyramidal,whereas the parent variety has a plant habit that is compact andflattened.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

In addition to the seed parent, ‘MonJers’ can be compared to thecommercial variety Tsuga canadensis ‘Emerald King’, unpatented. Thevarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however,plants of ‘MonJers’ produce Winter foliage colored near Yellow-Orange18A, whereas plants of ‘Emerald King’ remain green.

‘MonJers’ can be compared to the commercial variety Tsuga canadensis‘MonKinn’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,503. The varieties are similar in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘MonJers’ are uprightand pyramidal, whereas plants of ‘MonKinn’ are compact and flattened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘MonJers’ grown outdoors in Dayton, Oreg. The plant isapproximately 2 years old, and is shown in a three gallon container. Theplant of ‘MonJers’ is on the left side of the photograph. The plant onthe right side is the comparator, ‘MonKinn’.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘MonJers’ plants grown outdoors in Dayton,Oreg. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3 gallon nurserycontainer. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Tsuga canadensis ‘MonJers’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 60 to 90 days at approximately 40-50° F.-   Root description: Fibrous, very well branched. Colored near RHS    Brown 200C.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright pyramidal with arching branches.-   Height: Approximately 75 cm. after 2 years.-   Plant spread: Approximately 70 cm. after 2 years.-   Typical growth rate: Moderate for species.-   Pinching required: No.-   Branching characteristics: Single main stem with approximately 20 to    25 lateral branches. Lateral stems are held at an angle of    approximately 45 to 30 degree from the main stem. With maturity    these main lateral branches develop a slight downward arch at    approximately last 30% to 50% of branch. Main lateral branches have    between 10 and 15 secondary branches each.-   Length of lateral branches: Average 40 cm.-   Average number of lateral branches: Approximately 20 to 25 main    lateral branches, each with between 10 and 15 secondary lateral    branches.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Average 0.5 cm.-   Lateral branch shape in cross section: Generally round.-   Lateral branch strength: Flexible.-   Lateral branch color: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 177B.-   Lateral branch texture: Rough with hard, protruding lenticels.    Younger branches do not have lenticels, texture is striated.-   Internode length: Average range between 1.0 and 2.0 cm.-   Lenticels:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Average length.—Approximately 0. cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.15 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Green 197C.

FOLIAGE

-   General description: Tightly held, scale like leaves on planar    branchlets.-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate. Somewhat spiral attachment, however,            most foliage occurs on a single, flattened plane.        -   Type.—Flattened, nearly needlelike.        -   Shape of blade.—Linear.        -   Average length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.25 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 138A. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138B. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 137D. Winter Foliage: Upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Orange 18A. Under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A,            streaked almost entirely with Yellow-Orange 18A.        -   Venation.—Linear, indistinguishable from leaf blade.        -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—Flexible and resistant to            breakage.        -   Fragrance.—Mild, pleasant cedar to pine like scent.

FLOWER

-   Flowering not observed.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease and pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility    observed.-   Drought tolerance: No tolerance for drought.-   Temperature tolerance: USDA Zones 4-8.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Tsuga plant named‘MonJers’ as herein illustrated and described.